It seems impossible that William Shatner recently celebrated his 87th birthday. He remains youthful, charming, gleeful, and in possession of a wit so dry Oscar Wilde might materialize in envy.

Shatner’s first feature film role was Alexei, youngest of "The Brothers Karamazov" (1958), in which he is almost unrecognizable in a bowl haircut. He also starred in one of the few movies in history filmed in Esperanto ("Incubus," 1966). Familiar with the concept, but not fluent in this artificially constructed language, he learned the part phonetically.

Shatner remains the consummate promoter, this time for his appearance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall. He will answer the audience’s question after a showing of the director's cut of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,"

"The movie’s been freshened up, looks good, and it’s very popular," said Shatner of the 1982 film. "It received very good notices when released all those years ago, and there’s sound reason for that."

Following is an edited version of a recent conversation with the Canadian-born television and film star.

The Wrath of Khan' and Montalban

Question:I did not know Ricardo Montalbán was 62 when 'Wrath of Khan' was released. One critic said it was the defining role in his 70-year career. Montalbán was the quintessential Khan. Is it true that you and he were never on that movie set together?

William Shatner: The way it worked was, we met when he was a guest on a 'Star Trek' episode ('Space Seed,' 1967). We talked and became good friends I had a little bit of history with him, remembered seeing him on Broadway, in movies I was struck by how good he was in those roles, usually playing the Latin lover.

When I met him, it was one of those things when you feel you know the person. We got along extraordinarily well. But in (Khan), I never had a scene directly with him; we sort of communicated by long distance.

After the movie was over, we befriended one another and saw each other quite a bit. He was limping by then. He was in nearly constant pain from a congenital condition that affected his spine.

This 1982 file photo shows members cast of the film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," from left: George Takei, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, James Doohan, Kirstie Alley and Leonard Nimoy.(Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

Question: How long after the movie did he begin to limp?

William Shatner: Actually, during the movie. In fact, it’s part of what I speak about. I first saw him dance on Broadway —and he was remarkable, this beautiful athletic man The limp progressed to where, ultimately, he couldn’t get out of his wheelchair.

It was tragic beyond belief — as is anything like that — but here was this great guy, an athlete, and filled with the joy of life. (Montalbán was 88 when he died in January of 2009 of congestive heart failure)

Question: Is it true that you were unable to manipulate your fingers to gesture the Vulcan salute?

William Shatner: Not only back then; I still can’t.

Audiences and other pursuits

Question: What has no one yet asked you?

William Shatner: Well, what people don’t ask me about is how entertaining the evening is. You’ll come to the Performing Arts Center, you’ll see the film, and then the actor in the film will come out . . . and the shock of seeing a guy 35 years later is worth the price of admission. ‘My God! Look at him!’ No one’s ever asked me that before; you should.

William Shatner: Think about it. A kid, and his grandfather says, ‘You gotta look at this series called Star Trek,’ and the kid — 6, 7, 8 years old — says ‘Oh, that’s good! Take me to see Captain Kirk.’ Now the kid is there in the audience, looking at me . . . and still looking for Captain Kirk.

And his grandfather is saying, ‘Hey, look there Bobby! It’s Captain Kirk!’ and the kid says,‘Where?’ He’s looking under the table, behind the curtain . . . I’m not recognizable. It’s so embarrassing I can’t believe it.

Question: I’m going to take exception here. I’m unconvinced you’re all that embarrassed.

William Shatner: Well, I’m not really. But it makes good copy.

Question: Let’s talk about making good copy. Your NBC series ‘Better Late Than Never’ (reality globe-trotting show with Shatner, Henry Winkler, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman, and comedian Jeff Dye). You’re all laughing in every photograph. You seem to have a pretty good time wherever they send you.

William Shatner: Well, yes, we do. It’s fun. But it’s work. All the travelling; it is grueling.

Question: Since 1990, you have raised millions for numerous charities through your annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show (this year in Burbank on June 2). And, last year, you chronicled your lifetime love of horses (with Jeff Rovin) in "Spirit of the Horse: A Celebration in Fact and Fable." I also understand that competitive reining is a great passion of yours?

William Shatner: We’re often in the same competitions. Lyle is very good; he’s a wonderful rider. He’s got a beautiful horse with a beautiful mane. And he was born in Texas. Everybody rides a horse in Texas.

But he’s not doing anything else. I’ve got a couple of records to make; he’s not. And I’ve got a book coming out; he’s not.

Question: The book and records: when are they slated to hit?

William Shatner: ‘Live Long and . . . What I Might Have Learned Along the Way’ will be out in September.

Question: And the two new albums?

William Shatner: ‘Shatner Claus’ is a Christmas album and, despite the funny title, the contents are going to be really interesting. Some of the traditional Christmas songs will be a little offbeat, as well as some stuff that is really different and unique and worth listening to.

I’m also making a country music album with Jeff Cook (founder of Alabama).

Past and present

Question: You were probably the first big series star on television to have a cell phone. You’ve watched technology evolve over the last half-century and some science fiction is now reality. For example, 3-D digital printing that can produce a physical object by adding layer upon layer. Except for teleportation — we can’t transport objects.

William Shatner: Yeah, we can In the labs, they can send a molecule from one post to another. One molecule. So there is teleportation. We’ve just gotta add more molecules.

Question: Has your Bachelor of Commerce from McGill played any significant part in your career?

William Shatner will be at NJPAC in Newark on May 19th for a question-and-answer session following a special showing of 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.'(Photo: Photo by Manfred Bauman)

William Shatner: Probably not. I was doing a one-man show on Broadway for a while and whether the degree helped or not was part of the discourse. It might have helped me get the first job.

Question: I was struck by the number of times you’ve attributed your decades of success to the fact that you worked cheap.

William Shatner: Well . . . it depends on the parameters of cheap.

Question: And 20 years since you started as spokesperson for Priceline.com? On recent commercials, I noted they’ve promoted you to ‘Negotiator.’ It must be fun working with Kaley Cuoco (Penny on The Big Bang Theory), who plays your daughter in the ads?

William Shatner: Great girl. Gorgeous.

Question: You have said, ‘The more powerful the villain, the more powerful the hero.’

William Shatner: Right.

Question: Who was your favorite villain growing up?

William Shatner: I don’t know . . . from horror films . . . The devil. The devil and his minions.

Question: Your favorite now?

William Shatner: Now I realize how smart I was as a kid. The devil and his minions.

Question: Finally: do you have enough hours yet to helicopter solo?

William Shatner: Not yet. I have 10 and you need 40. I’ve got to stop doing interviews and writing and doing these shows. Like the one I’ll be doing on May.